Adult swims at Perdiswell would rise 50p to £7.80 and a single three-centre membership to £55 a month from 1 January, under Freedom Leisure's 2027 price list.
Prices at Worcester’s three council leisure centres would rise by an average of 5.3% from 1 January 2027, under proposals from the operator, Freedom Leisure.
An adult swim at Perdiswell Leisure Centre would go up 50p to £7.80. A single monthly membership covering all three Worcester centres would rise from £52 to £55.
The prices cover Perdiswell Leisure Centre, St John’s Sports Centre and Nunnery Wood Sports Complex, plus the tennis courts in Gheluvelt and Cripplegate parks. They go to the city council’s Communities Committee on 4 November (council report). The full list is in the appendix.
Why prices are going up
The report says staffing makes up more than 44% of Freedom Leisure’s costs, pushed up by the real living wage and employer national insurance. Energy is the second-biggest cost, at nearly 11.5%, and Freedom Leisure has warned the council of big rises in gas costs this winter.
The report compares the rise with forecasts that inflation will reach 3.4% by the end of 2026. It says the council could face a cut in the fee Freedom Leisure pays it, or be asked for financial support, if prices are not raised.
Swimming
| Swim at Perdiswell | Now | From 1 January |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £7.30 | £7.80 |
| Junior | £3.90 | £4.10 |
| Under 4 | £1.90 | £2.00 |
| Over-75s, a year’s unlimited swimming | £26.00 | £28.60 |
| 50+ swim session | £4.30 | £5.00 |
| Water aerobics | £9.00 | £9.50 |
| Swimming-only membership, monthly | £39.00 | £41.00 |
The biggest single rise is the 50+ swim session, up 70p. The report says it is still about a third cheaper than a standard adult swim. Over-75s pay the one annual fee for unlimited swimming, which works out at 55p a week.
The council’s benchmarking puts Perdiswell’s new adult price above most nearby pools but below Worcester’s Citizens Pool.
Swimming lessons
Swim school prices would rise by an average of 3.2%. The monthly direct debit covers one lesson a week for 50 weeks, and includes free public swimming.
- Junior 30-minute lessons: £35.50 to £37.00 a month
- Junior 45-minute coaching (stages 8 to 10): £38.00 to £39.50
- Junior Rookie lifesaving, 60 minutes: £42.00 to £43.00
- Adult 30-minute lessons: £45.00 to £46.00
Gym and memberships
Monthly direct debit prices, standard rate:
| Membership | Now | From 1 January |
|---|---|---|
| Single, all three Worcester centres | £52.00 | £55.00 |
| Single, Perdiswell only | £47.99 | £49.99 |
| Single, St John’s and Nunnery Wood | £36.50 | £38.00 |
| Single, Nunnery Wood only (new) | none | £32.00 |
| Joint (two adults), all three Worcester centres | £93.60 | £96.00 |
| Family (two adults, two under-18s), all three centres | £115.00 | £125.00 |
| Junior 11 to 13, all three centres | £25.40 | £26.40 |
| Junior 14 and over, all three centres | £27.30 | £28.30 |
The family membership has the largest rise, 8.7%. Freedom Leisure says two of the gyms it covers have been fully refurbished. Paying for a year up front costs 11 months’ fees.
Pay-as-you-go prices would also rise:
- Fitness classes, including Les Mills sessions: £9.00 to £9.50 at all three centres
- Gym session at St John’s: £8.50 to £9.50
- Gym session at Perdiswell: £9.00 to £9.50
- Gym session at Nunnery Wood: £6.20 to £6.50
- Badminton, table tennis or pickleball court, an hour: £16.00 to £17.00
- Squash: £7.20 to £7.50, or £5.50 to £5.70 off peak
Children’s parties
- Pool floats party, Perdiswell: £180 to £190
- Jungle Run inflatable party, Perdiswell: £185 to £195
- Under-5s soft play party, Perdiswell: £115 to £125
- St John’s party: £185 to £195
Tennis
The household annual pass for the Gheluvelt and Cripplegate park courts would rise from £75 to £78, or £58.50 at the concession rate. It covers up to four hours of bookings a week. Pay and play courts would go from £7.50 to £7.75 an hour, plus £5.50 an hour for floodlights at Cripplegate.
Fifteen hours a week of free courts stay for people who qualify for the concession rates. The council will also keep paying for 55 hours of free tennis over 15 days after Wimbledon.
Football and athletics
Hire of Perdiswell’s full-size 3G pitch rises 10% across the board, for example from £82.50 to £90.75 an hour for club block bookings. The report says it stays cheaper than the University of Worcester and Claines Lane pitches. At Nunnery Wood, the old all-weather pitch goes from £91.45 to £95.50, and athletics track entry from £5.70 to £6.00. A new 3G pitch planned at Nunnery Wood would be charged at Perdiswell’s rates.
What stays the same
- Concessions: Advance 25 (up to 25% off, for under-18s, state pensioners, full-time students, blue light, armed forces and veterans) and Advance 50 (up to 50% off pay-as-you-go, for people on a list of benefits, carers and care leavers) continue.
- Equipment hire: racket hire stays £1 and replacement cards £5.
- Heart of Worcestershire College students: pay £61 for a year, with the college paying the other half of the £122 fee.
What it means for you
- If you pay monthly: the new prices are due to start on 1 January 2027. Members on the joint St John’s and Nunnery Wood membership will be offered a move to the new, cheaper Nunnery Wood-only option.
- It is not final yet: after the Communities Committee, the prices go to Policy and Resources Committee on 17 November and full council on 24 November. Meetings are open to the public (Communities Committee agenda).
- Prices are maximums: the report says Freedom Leisure can run cheaper promotional offers.
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